elderly

[el-der-lee] /ˈɛl dər li/
adjective
1.
somewhat old; near old age:
a resort for elderly people.
2.
of or pertaining to persons in later life.
Origin
1605-15; elder1 + -ly
Related forms
elderliness, noun
nonelderly, noun
unelderly, adjective
Synonyms
1. See old.
Examples from the web for elderly
  • Someday, in a house next door, a robot may be playing a game of cribbage with an elderly widow.
  • elderly visitors who drink the spring's sulfur-smelling water don't turn into teenagers.
  • But bites can be fatal-usually to small children, the elderly, or the infirm.
  • Some elderly males do become completely white, though many retain small flecks of dusky plumage.
  • If possible, talk to elderly residents who might have interesting stories to share about the changes they've seen in the area.
  • Ash and toxic gases can cause lung damage and other problems, particularly for infants and the elderly.
  • In the developed world cataracts hardly ever cause blindness, and mostly elderly people are affected.
  • In reality, the nebula is made of two elderly stars.
  • One cure for age discrimination against elderly habitat is to hike through what replaces it after logging.
  • Such beliefs are fading with the tigers, recalled now only by the elderly.
British Dictionary definitions for elderly

elderly

/ˈɛldəlɪ/
adjective (of people)
1.
  1. quite old; past middle age
  2. (as collective noun; preceded by the): the elderly, related adjective geriatric
Derived Forms
elderliness, noun
Usage note
Referring to any group using the formula the elderly, the disabled is nowadays felt to be inappropriate because it glosses over people's individuality and perpetuates stereotypes. It is preferable to use phrases such as disabled people and so forth. Many people also prefer to talk about older rather than elderly people for similar reasons
Word Origin and History for elderly
adj.

1610s, from elder + -ly (1). Old English ealdorlic meant "chief, princely, excellent, authentic." Old English also had related eldernliche "of old time," literally "forefatherly."

Encyclopedia Article for elderly

old age

in human beings, the final stage of the normal life span. Definitions of old age are not consistent from the standpoints of biology, demography (conditions of mortality and morbidity), employment and retirement, and sociology. For statistical and public administrative purposes, however, old age is frequently defined as 60 or 65 years of age or older

Learn more about old age with a free trial on Britannica.com